Discovering a nail polish stain on our living room carpet is a terrible experience that most of us have had. We all want to keep our homes in good shape and looking as lovely as possible, and we constantly work to ensure that our carpets stay clean and attractive.
Nail polish creates unsightly blemishes that make your home seem less tidy and result in expensive carpet cleaning bills. That’s why it’s crucial that we know how to get nail polish out of carpet. We’ve developed this guide to assist you through those situations when you have nail polish on area rugs or in a carpet.
You’ll find out the best methods of getting a fresh nail polish stain out before it dries using household items. And, we show you how to remove nail polish from carpet after it’s already dried.
Getting Nail Polish Out of Carpet – New Nail Polish Stains
Learn how to get nail polish off without nail polish remover and the best way to safely clean stains using acetone, too. Before long, your carpets will be like new, and your home will gleam.
If at all possible, catch nail polish stains when they’re still fresh. A wet nail polish stain can be a messy cleanup experience, but you can get nail polish out of the carpet much more quickly when it’s still in liquid form.
Cleaning up a new nail polish spill gives your carpet a better chance of coming through the ordeal without permanent damage. This section looks at the ways to remove fingernail polish from your carpet while the stain is still new.
We show you how to tackle nail polish stains using nothing but a spoon, and you’ll also discover a stain removal method that uses basic home staples such as hydrogen peroxide and window cleaner to wipe out your spills.
Use a Spoon and Towel to Get Nail Polish Out of Carpet
It might seem counterintuitive to clean your nail polish stain with a utensil rather than a cleaning liquid, but a spoon is a great starting option.
Using a spoon is a great way to get nail polish off without nail polish remover or other potentially damaging cleaning agents. You can get almost all of a fresh nail polish spill using this method, and it won’t hurt your carpet when you do.
Use the spoon to carefully scrape up and scoop away excess polish on the carpet. Wipe off the spoon with the cloth or paper towel as you go, and keep the spoon clean to avoid spreading the stain.
Once you’ve gotten up as much polish as you can, dampen the sponge in the cold water, and blot the carpet stain to absorb any remaining polish.
Get Nail Polish off without Nail Polish Remover using Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a remarkable cleaner. It has a million household uses and can clean clothes or take care of your ant problem. You can even use peroxide as an effective homemade enzyme cleaner for dog urine.
And, when you use it correctly, it can take care of fresh nail polish on upholstery or carpet without leaving residue or discoloration. Peroxide can bleach your carpet, though, so only use this cleaning solution on light-colored carpet. Always test your peroxide cleaning products on a hard-to-see spot before going after the stain.
Pour the peroxide into the spray bottle, and spray the area until the stain is wet. Let the peroxide sit on the polish stain for at least ten minutes.
Blot the area with the cloth or paper towel. Repeat until the stain disappears. Dampen the sponge in the cold water and clean up any residual liquid and debris.
Use Window Cleaner on Your Stain
You’d be surprised at the issues your ordinary window cleaner is perfect for resolving. Window cleaner can remove mustard stains from carpet, get your greasy pipes in good condition, and clean windows, too. It’s also a great way to get nail polish off without nail polish remover.
Spray the window cleaner on the stain until the area is wet. Let the cleaner sit on the polish stain for at least five minutes. Then, gently blot the area with the cloth.
Repeat this process until you’ve lifted the stain out entirely. Dampen the sponge in cold water, and blot the carpet to remove any residual cleaner. You can also use this method when you want to get a clean carpet without a machine.
How to Remove Nail Polish from Carpet – Dried Nail Polish Stains
Cleaning dried nail polish stains requires a different approach than when you discover a fresh stain. Once the polish has dried onto the carpet fibers, you’ll need to break down the polish before you can remove it.
You can sometimes use mechanical means to clean your polish stains, but more often than not, you’ll need to turn to a cleaner that alters the polish so it can be lifted out. This section covers how to remove nail polish from carpet once the stain has dried completely.
You’ll discover a simple and effective method of removing nail polish that doesn’t require chemical agents, and you’ll learn how to resolve your stain woes with rubbing alcohol and hairspray. And, we also show you the most effective home cleaning product for nail polish that you can reach for when all else has failed.
Use a Butter Knife to Scrape Away the Stain
Nail polish dries into a hard, gummy substance that can be difficult to remove from carpet fibers. Sometimes, the best cleaning method for dried nail polish is brute force and patience. The same applies if you need a way to get nail glue out of clothes or carpeting without harming the material.
A butter knife can be a fantastic carpet cleaner and works wonders on dried stains; you’ll be surprised at how much of your stain comes away with just a little time and effort.
Gently scrape at the dry nail polish with the butter knife. The polish should begin to flake off and crumble, although it might take some time.
When you’ve dislodged a fair amount of polish from the rug, clean away the debris with the vacuum. Repeat until you’ve cleaned away the stain. Dampen the sponge in the water, and blot the carpet to clean away any lingering polish.
Clean Your Nail Polish Stain with Rubbing Alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol, also called rubbing alcohol, isn’t just for disinfecting cuts. You can use rubbing alcohol for all sorts of home uses, from cleaning silver coins to cleaning a coffee stain on carpet.
It’s a fantastic DIY carpet stain cleaning solution, too, so when you need to how to remove nail polish from carpet or remove paint from carpet in a hurry, rubbing alcohol should be one of your first options. Before trying this cleaning method, test it first on an inconspicuous area.
Fill the spray bottle with alcohol, and spray the stain until it’s completely wet. Use the cloth to blot away as much of the stain as you can. Then, respray the area.
Let the alcohol sit for about five minutes, and gently scrub the stain with a toothbrush until the rest of the stain lifts away. You might need to repeat the spraying and blotting to remove any liquid as you go. After the stain lifts away, add the dishwashing liquid to the warm water, and dampen the rag.
Blot the stain to clean away any remaining mess, and rinse the sponge in cold water. Blot the area one last time to finish your cleanup. Try this method for cleaning nail polish off leather couches and clothing. Keep this nail polish cleaner around the house to quickly clean up spills.
Clean Your Dried Nail Polish Stain with Hairspray
If you’re concerned about how to get nail polish out of carpet with a gentle household agent, you might want to try using hairspray. Hairspray is a fantastic homemade carpet cleaner.
You can use hairspray as a DIY home cleaning product to take care of all sorts of stains. Hairspray is a great option to remove mustard stains from carpet, and it’ll take care of your nail polish spills, as well.
Spray the stain with the hairspray until the area is saturated. Let it sit for about five minutes, and scrub at the area with the brush until the stain lifts. Use the cloth to blot away any resulting mess.
Repeat until the stain is gone. Dampen the sponge in the water, and blot the area to soak up any remaining liquid. You can also clean fingernail polish from sofa cushions using this method.
If All Else Fails, Use Nail Polish Remover
Maybe you have a stubborn stain that won’t budge, even after scraping it and treating the area with alcohol, window cleaner, or other agents. When you encounter a stain you can’t take care of with gentler means, you can always try nail polish remover. As a bonus, this solution also works well to get super glue off nails and fingers.
Nail polish remover usually contains acetone, which breaks down the polish into parts, making it easier to clean. Both acetone and non-acetone nail polish remover can stain clothes and carpet, though, so test this option on a safe spot before you try it on the stain.
Fill the bottle with fingernail polish remover, and spray the stain until wet. Let the nail polish remover sit on the stain for at least 15 minutes, and scrub the area with your brush in a gentle circular motion.
Use the cloth to blot away any liquid, and repeat until the stain disappears entirely. Wet your sponge in warm water, and gently blot the area to clean away any residue.
Note that you can also use acetone as paint roller cleaner if you are using an oil-based paint. Acetone has many uses but it is important to use extra care for skin protection when using this method.
We hope you enjoyed our tips about how to get nail polish out of carpet. It can be heartbreaking to see red nail polish staining your beautiful carpet, which is why we wrote this guide. In this article, you’ll learn how to clean away your nail polish stains as gently as possible and leave your carpet looking fresh and new.
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